Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft ... - Cal Fire

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft Management Plan, June 2008 Ground Cover Within the forested areas, ground cover varies from pine needle litter to patches of shrubs typical of central and northern inland California foothill areas. Under the denser stands of timber, the ground is park-like and open with no undergrowth, then grades into sparse grass and dense brush in the more open stands. Areas that were unstocked following logging have since become a thick cover of predominantly ponderosa pine reproduction and/or brush. The brush patches are composed principally of Konocti manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. elegans), and Sonoma manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. sonomensis). Ponderosa pine reproduction has forced its way up through the brush canopy in many of the brush patches. Konocti Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. Elegans) and Sonoma Manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. Sonomensis) are two rare species of manzanita identified during recent botanical surveys. These species are listed as CNPS 1B, but are considered locally common on Boggs Mountain. Considering the large population of these two Manzanita species found throughout the state forest, the proposed silvicultural methods, the use of existing landings, skid trails, and roads, and the lack of herbicide use it appears that no significant adverse impact to the population will occur. Economic Situation Towns and communities The Forest is located in the community of Cobb, which is about equidistant from Middletown, Kelseyville, and Lower Lake. These three towns are about 30 minutes driving time from the Forest over paved state highways. In recent years Middletown has become an affordable alternative to the high housing prices of Sonoma County. The urban areas of Santa Rosa and Ukiah are becoming too expensive causing people to move into the area because of the lower housing costs. Many of the residents of Middletown join the commuter traffic to Santa Rosa each morning. In the past and up until the early 1970’s the Cobb area was a major resort area. Since the early 1970’s, Cobb’s resort industry has decreased to a small part of its past glory. Today most of the old resorts are owned by groups as conference centers or retreats and are not open to the general public. The Forest is surrounded by areas of intensive recreational use and though most summer resorts have declined in the vicinity, summer and year-round home construction and subdivision development in the area immediately surrounding BMDSF is continuing. This growth has translated into increased visitors to the forest. The demand for energy greatly accelerated the exploration for and development of the geothermal resource in Lake County in the 1980’s. The greatest development was in the Cobb Mountain area within a few miles of Boggs Mountain. Calpine operates 19 plants on Cobb Mountain, known as “The Geysers,” with a generating capacity of 850 megawatts. The Forest is within a few miles of the Geyser’s geothermal field, which has been developed extensively since 1976. The geothermal industry brought new economic prosperity to the Cobb area during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. During the 1980’s, as geothermal development leveled off, community growth continued because of relatively inexpensive land and housing. The population of Lake County has increased by almost 50 percent since 1986. Much of the increase is occurring in the southern county where Boggs Mountain is located. Subdivision 22
Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft Management Plan, June 2008 development and home construction have increased the population pressures on commercial development, schools, demand for recreation, and increased demand for services. The population growth increased the demand for fuel wood from the State Forest. This demand is heightened by the relatively high heating fuel costs in Lake County which is not served by natural gas. Population growth and increased pressure for more services make the addition of staff at BMDSF desirable. Markets for forest products The Department currently offers the public and private commercial interests the opportunity to purchase minor forest products, subject to specific rules and constraints. At present, permits can be purchased for collection of products including salvage sawlogs, poles, split products, greenery (e.g. boughs, shrubs, and ferns), rocks, and firewood. Class I sale permits are issued for the collection of these minor forest products. The market for the sawlog timber was very limited when the first BMDSF timber sales were offered in 1967. Only one mill in Ukiah showed interest in the first sale and two mills, one in Ukiah and one in Marysville, bid on the second sale. With improving market conditions, sawlog timber has become very marketable with more mills and loggers showing interest in State Forest timber sales. In addition to the sale of sawlogs, BMDSF staff is exploring the opportunities within the pole timber and biomass markets. Table 4. Forest products mills in California. Mill Location Distance in miles from BMDSF Unity Forest Products Yuba City 90 Marysville Forest Products Marysville 92 Harwood Products Branscomb 95 Sierra Pacific Industries Richfield 115 Sierra Pacific Industries Lincoln 117 Sierra Pacific Industries Anderson 145 Sierra Pacific Industries Camino 160 Sierra Pacific Industries Shasta Lake City 165 Sierra Pacific Industries Quincy 195 Collins Pine Company Chester 205 Shasta Green, Inc Burney 210 Sierra Pacific Industries Burney 210 Sierra Pacific Industries Chinese Camp 225 Sierra Pacific Industries Standard 235 Sierra Pacific Industries Susanville 235 Transportation Facilities All markets are accessible by state highways. Highway 175 is adjacent to the northwestern boundary of the forest and within four miles of all of the State Forest roads. Major highway improvements have been made between 1965 and 2004 on State Highways 20 and 29, cutting the time and cost of hauling logs to the mills. 23
Page 1 and 2: Boggs Mountain Demonstration State
Page 21: Boggs Mountain Demonstration State
Page 73 and 74:
Boggs Mountain Demonstration State
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91:
show all

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft ... - Cal Fire

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?